Since the 1960s, the popular press and academic journals have promulgated the stereotype of Asian American success, maintaining that Asian Americans are well educated, that they are disproportionately and hiqhly represented in professional and technical positions, and that they earn salaries equal to or higher than those of majority Americans. Data and studies indicate that this stereotype of success does not accurately describe members of Asian American groups. In the first place, the idea that all Asian Americans have achieved a high level of economic well-being ignores vast differences in income, education, and occupation among groups within the heterogeneous Asian communities. Secondly, the success stereotype focuses on Asian Americans who are college graduates or who are in high paying occupations but does not consider the large number of illiterates, those who are in low paying jobs, and the unemployed. Finally, Asian Americans earn incomes that are lower than those of majority Americans with the same education. The widely held stereotype of Asian American success seems to have led to official neglect of Asian American problems. Several incidents demonstrate cases in which Asian Americans were overlooked or omitted from consideration in Federal policies and programs. These examples provide cause for considerable concern. (Author/MJL)